Means for propelling rowboats.



PATENTED DEC. 25, 1906.

V. JOHNSON. MEANS FOR PROPELLING ROWBOATS.

APPLICATION FILED HAY17, 1905.

UNITED r 31E v I -/-j VINCENT JO NSON, OF ASPEN, COLORADO.

Specification of Letters Patent.

MEANS FOR PROPELLING ROWBOATS- Patented Dec. 25, 1906.

I Application filed May 17, 1905. Serial No. 260,754.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VINCENT JoHNsoN, a citizen of the United States, residin at Aspen, in the county of Pitkin and tate of Colorado, have invented certain new and use .ful Improvements in Means forPropelling Rowboats; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to means for propelling rowboats; and my object is to provide an apparatus of this character adapted to take t e place of the ordinary oars and at the same time enable the operator to occupy a position facing the direction in which the oat is traveling. I

My further object is to rovide a device -which shall be more easi y operated and which shall at the same time be more efficient than the ordinary oars for propelling boats of this character.

Having briefly outlined my improved construction, as well as the function it is intended to perform, I will proceed to describe the --.3o

same in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a boat equipped with my improvements. Fi 2 is a detail view of one of the pro elling evices, the upper part of one side of t e boat being shown in section, while the rest is broken away. Fig. 3 shows the propelling-arm viewed from the reverse side as compared with Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the boat, looking at the propelling-arm at right angles to Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, the blade of the propelling arm, however, being thrown backwardly against, the spring to illustrate its position when making the reverse stroke through the water.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate a row-boat which may be of any suitable construction. To the opposite edges of this boat are applied clasps 6, which overlap the upper edge of the boat and may be held in place by suitable in which is journaled a spindle 9, having a crank 10 extending into the boat and provided with a handle 12. To the outer extremity of the spindle is secured the propellin -arm 13, its upper extremity being provided with an eye 14, passed over the spindle, whose outer extremity is threaded to receive a fastening-nut 15. This propellingarm 13 is adjustable lengthwise or extensible and consists of two parts 13 and 13. As shown in the drawings, the part-13 is provided at its upper extremity with an apertured part 13 through which the art 13" passes, the two parts occupying ifierent planes and being adapted to overlap each other. These parts may be held in any desired position of adjustment by a set-screw 16. To the lower extremity of the arm part 13 is attached a propelling-blade 17, the blade being pivotally connected with the arm by a pin 18. Below this pivotal point the arm part has an extension 19, which forms a etc to prevent the arm from swinging in one irection, while it is free to move in the opposite direction, being resisted only by a spring 20, coiled around a screw 21, a plied to the arm above the ropelling-bla e. As shown in the drawings, the lower extremity of the arm art 13 is provided with an opening throug which is passed the epin 18, the latter engaging bearings 22, ocated on opposite sides of the arm.

From the foregoing descri tion the use and operation of my improve device will be readily understood. Assuming that the boat is being propelled in the direction indicated b the arrow in Fig. 1, the rower when sitting in the boat will face in the direction the boat is traveling. Now as he pulls on the handles 12 or moves-the said handles toward himself the blades 17, acting on the water, will propel the boat in the direction indicated. Now as the handles are moved in the opposite direction the blades will swing against the sprin 20 to the position shown in Fi 5, where y their edges only are presente to the water as they move in the reverse direction, thus offerin practically no resistance to the water w e making the backward movement.-

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The combination with a rowboat, of a bearing-clasp removably applied to the upper edge of the boat, a crank proj cting into the boat and provided with a horizontal spindle j ournaled in the bearing of the clasp, a depending propelling-arm secured to the outer extremity of the s indle, a propellingblade having bearings lbcated on opposite sides of its upper central portion, a hinge-pin engaging the bearin s and passing through the propelling-arm wllich occupies a position between the two bearings of the blade, and

means for retaining the blade and propellingarm in operativerelation comprising a rigid stop on one side of the blade, a-spring engaging the blade on the opposite side, and means for regulating thetension of the spring, substantially as described.

- 2. The combination with a rowboat, of bearing-'clasps removably applied to the upper edge of the boat, cranks projecting into the boat and rovided with horizontal spindies journalecl in the bearings of the clasp,a depending propellin'garm secured to the outer extremity of the s indle, a propellingblade having bearings lbcated on opposite sides of its upper central portion, a hinge-pin engaging the bearin and passing through the propelling-arm w 'ch occupies a position between the two bearings of the blade, a

spring connected with the arm at one ex tremity and engaging the blade at the opposite extremity, a tension-screw with which said spring is connected and around which it is coiled and a stop formin an extension of the arm and en aging the bide on the opposite side from t e spring.

3. The combination with a rowboat, of a crank projecting into the boat and rovided with a horizontal spindle journale on the boat, a depending propelling-arm secured to the outer extremity of the spindle and composed of two overla ping parts capable of adjustment to regu' ate the length of the arm, and a blade hinged to the lower extremity of the arm, a spring connected with the arm and engaging the blade and means for regulatin the tension of the spring, the arm having a so an extension forming a stop to the blade on the opposite side of the spring.

In testimonywhereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VINCENT JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

A. J. OBRIEN, DENA NELSON. 

